Ticino-Switzerland : April 25 - Sunny day for a hike up to Cureggia.

Since we've had so much rain lately, on a sunny day like today, we wanted to be outside as much as possible. In the morning Rick and I went downtown to Lugano and had a cappuccino by the lakefront. Then after lunch at home, we started our hike up to Cureggia. This is a little town on the mountainside directly up from us - it is sitting there all alone on the mountainside! The first mention of Cureggia was from 1329. I can't imagine the people hiking up and down that far! But I think they were self-sufficient and stayed there on the mountainside.

Up from Pregassona is a nice path - all the way up to Cureggia it is paved with stones. Some areas have been re-done, and others are a bit crumbling, but it's great to have a definite path to walk on. The view from up above was wonderful today! There was the very old original center of town, as in most places, and then surrounded by new, modern houses. They were quite spectacular and magnificent views and swimming pools. Boy, I would LOVE to spend an afternoon lying by one of those pools with a view! There are also many other hiking paths that branch out from Cureggia, and even mountain biking paths. I can't imagine trying to ride a bike through the forest on the side of a mountain!

It took us nearly an hour to hike up (but we took our time), and then we hiked more in the town to check it all out. We relaxed in the afternoon at the Grotto da Pierino by having a beer outside on this splendid day. We took the bus back down to Pregassona - we felt walking down would cause havoc with our knees!